Furthermore, Christians concentrate on the Passion and the Cross as if it was the finality of God’s plan.

At the cross a human life ended, but the greatest joy began at the resurrection. God’s plan went beyond the cross.

Boxer illustration: A boxer is taught to hit beyond his target-to pass through. With God’s plan the cross took us to the Lord’s physical death, but it was in the resurrection that God showed His glory (Acts 2:29)

In this lesson we want to consider:

Where it all began.

Christ’ earthly ministry.

Passion of Christ.

Glory of the resurrection.

History: Where it all began

In the beginning

God created the crown of His creation when He made man from dust and woman from man’s rib. (Gen. 2)

He placed man in the paradise call the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 2:9ff)

Total bliss, complete trust, everything was perfect.

Adam and Eve were told to work the garden and enjoy the perfection that could be found in Eden. (Gen. 2:15)

God instructed His children that all the fruit and vegetables that grew in the garden was for their enjoyment, except for one tree, right in the center of the Paradise. This tree was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. (Gen. 2:16-17)

The disobedience and implications

What Adam and Eve did not understand was that the day they decided to disobey God they were sealing their sentence, but what made matters worse is that it set in motion a whole remedial plan.

Man would now be separated from God because of his disobedience, literally sent out of the garden (Gen. 3:20-24; Isaiah 59:2), and driven from the presence of God.

What this meant was that the Son of God would leave heaven, take the form of man, and die on the cruel cross.

“But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.” (Is. 53:10)

Can you imagine how the Godhead felt as they looked on and seeing Adam and Eve taking from the tree.

This is the darkest day in the human race Even darker than the day when Jesus was crucified. This is when sin entered into the world, when death began, when human suffering was ushered in, when shame and guilt originated, this was when, pointing from eternity past through history into eternity future, God decided that His very own Son would have to die on the cross. I can almost hear the angels along with the Godhead in heaven gasping as they witnessed Adam eat of the forbidden fruit. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Rom. 5:12)

Jesus took on the form of man and came to earth (Philippians 5-10)

Birth (Matthew 1:18-24).

Earthly ministry (Matthew 3:13-27:36)

During the earthly ministry Jesus often spoke about His death.

The death was necessary in order to bring man back into a relationship with God. (Is. 59:1-2)

Peter did not want Jesus to die, he wanted to stop the entire process. Peter simply did not understand the implications of man’s sins and the remedy for that sin. (“But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Matthew 16:23)

James and John, the sons of thunder (Mark 3:17ff) wanted to sit on the left and right hand of Jesus, so they could send lightening from heaven and kill all those who wanted to kill Jesus. They did not understand that Jesus had not come to kill, but to save.

Jesus knew He must die for the benefit of mankind.

Passion

Week

Scourging

Cross

The end?

Just the beginning.

The glory of the resurrection

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.” — John 20:1-18

John 13:1-4; Hebrews 12:2

The cross did not put an end to the plan, it just begun.

The cross was considered degrading, disparaging, but for Jesus the humiliation was worth the reward-OUR REDEMPTION!

This is why Jesus could say from the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

Jesus’ glorious work of ruling, reigning and interceding continues today.

Through His resurrection He conquered death (1 Cor. 15), and gave us the promise that we too shall one day resurrect and shout the victory!

Conclusion:

TEN THOUSAND ANGELS
They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where He prayed;
They led Him thro’ the streets in shame.
They spat upon the Savior so pure and free from sin;
They said, “Crucify Him; He’s to blame.”

Refrain
He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels,
But He died alone, for you and me.

Upon His precious head they placed a crown of thorns;
They laughed and said, “Behold the King!”
They struck Him and they cursed Him and mocked His holy name
All alone He suffered everything.

When they nailed Him to the cross, His mother stood nearby,
He said, “Woman, behold thy son!”
He cried, “I thirst for water,” but they gave Him none to drink.
Then the sinful work of man was done.

To the howling mob He yielded; He did not for mercy cry.
The cross of shame He took alone.
And when He cried, “It’s finished,” He gave Himself to die;
Salvation’s wondrous plan was done.